In 1969, my then-girlfriend Patti and her friend Carol were visiting my pal Paul and me at our apartment. They left in Patti's car about 12:30. As they did, a mysterious car that had been idling with its lights off squealed off after them. I was very concerned, more concerned than Paul I'm sure, because I got in my car and followed to Patti's house to make sure she got home. I didnt see her car in the drive, and when I knocked at the door, her Dad answered.
I watched his face turn red with anger as I described the situation.

As I drove back toward home depressed, concerned, and angry, there in the parking lot of a Village Inn, was Patti's car. I stormed in to find her and Carol eating breakfast with Alex Chilton and the Box Tops, who had played a show in Louisville earlier that night. Enraged, I glared at the poor Box Tops, who all looked about 5 foot 3 and had on matching suits, and berated Patti and Carol for dawdling on their way home.

Anyway, that's my personal bond with Alex Chilton. I saw him for the second time in St Louis in 2007 at a concert on the riverfront where he covered the Box Tops hits and several Big Star tunes, sounding great. I'm very sorry to hear the news. He was a terrific songwriter.